davis



May 26, 1931. t E. w. DAVlS I 1,806,615

' LUBRICANT COMPRESSOR Filed Aug. 29. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ditarrzgya 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1931. E. w. DAVIS LUBRICANT COMPRESSOR Filed Aug. 29. 1927 v rt x mm m g k 6) m. m 4 W 0 v \M h) v 1 M QNH IHWML (U\ t w a 1 5! 9 Kw \W i w mi km a m QM. .W N H mm m w I 1 l1: v [ll A g my mu m k 3 Nb Q l! -h. 9%. M an ow mm a I- in I! W N M w H o. o 1 I m R a T .May 26, 1931. E. w. DAVIS VLUBRICANT COMPRESSOR Filed Aug. 29. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED, srars .ATENT OFFICE ERNEST W. DAVIS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO ALEMITE CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LUBRICANT COMPRESSOR Application filed August 29, 1927. Serial No. 216,129.

My invention relates to lubricant compressors and is more particularly concerned with mobile compressors of the type adapted for use in service stations and garages wherein it is desired to have a device of this kind which may be readily moved from place to place and which has reservoir means containing suflicient lubricant to permit continued use over a substantial period of time without refilling.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and im roved lubricant compressor.

Another 0 ject is to provide a more compact and attractive grouping of the several parts thereof. v

Another object is to provide an improved and simplified manner of mounting and connecting the several operating units of the compressor;

Another object is to provide a compressor that can be easily and quickly assembled.

Another object is' to provide a compressor wherein it is unnecessary to accurately align the several operating units relatively to each other.

Another object is to proved cylinder unit.

Another object is to provide a new. and improvide a new and improveddriving mechanism. Another object is to provide a novel driving yoke and guiding means therefor.

Another object is to provide an improved and more compact arrangement of crank disc and its associated driving and supporting means.

Another object is to provide special means for permitting the ready removal of any air which may collect in the reservoir or cylinder.

Another object is to provide a reservoir having a discharge outlet located eccentrically thereof and bafile means adjacent said outlet for insuring even withdrawalof lubricant from the reservoir.

Another object is to provide a novel means for preventing leakage of lubricant around the piston rod.

Another object is to provide new and improved means for lubricating the bearings and guiding means.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my new and improved lubricant compressor;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1';

Figure 3 is a section Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view of the discharge end of the flexible discharge conduit, showing the booster and release valve forming a part thereof. v

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my compressor as having an elongated base 10 mounted on casters 11 which permit the device to be readily moved from place to place as conditions of operation may dictate.

eferring, particularly, to Figure 1, it will on the line 33 of be seen that the casters are located at the corners of a rectangle and that the center line of the base forms the center line of this rectangle. An electric motor A is mounted on one end of the base by means of bolts 13, the center line or axis of the motor being at a slight angle to the axis of the base. At the opposite end of the base I mount a reservoir B, the reservoir being firmly held on the base by bolts 15 passing through the bottom of the reservoir.

Within the base of the reservoir B is supported the cylinder unit C and interposed between the reservoir and the motor is a driving mechanism D for transmitting the power generated by the motor A to the piston of the cylinder unit. As shown most clearly in Figure 3, the axes of cylinder unit and driving mechanism are parallel to each other and to the axis of the motor A, and are likewise at an angle to the center line of the base.

'This stair-like arrangement of the several units permits the use of a smaller base and results in a more compact and attractive Within the reservoir B and supported thereby in a novel manner is the cylinder unit C comprising a cylinder member 16, piston 17, trough 21 and guide 34; the cylinder member, trough and guide being secured together to form a unitary structure capable of maintaining proper alignment of the piston and cylinder. The cylinder member has a bore-18'therein, forming the cylinder proper, and the port 19 for establishing communication between the interior of said cylinder and the reservoir B. The cylinder member 16 is screwthreaded at 20 for engagement with the co-operating threads of a trough member 21 and the end 22 of the member 16 is threaded for engagement-with a casting 23 forming a valve chamber and having an outlet 24 in which is secured one end of a flexible discharge conduit 25. A washer 26 is interposed between the casting 23 and the wall of the reservoir to prevent any escape of lubricant therebetween. The end 22 of the cylinder member 16 has an enlarged bore 27 terminating at a shoulder 28 forming a seat for the check valve 29 held against said seat by the spring 30. The bore 18 extends inwardly of the port 19 and forms a guide 31 for the piston 17. The trough 21 has a second threaded end 33 for co-operating with the guide 34 extending through the wall of the reservoir and having a head 35 which serves as a means for clamping'a washer 36 against said reservoir wall toprevent leakage of lubricant. The underside of the trough 21 is provided with a supporting lug 37 resting on the bottom of the reservoir and the upper part of the trough terminates in an elongated rectangular opening normally covered by a wire mesh screen 38 which prevents dirt and other impurities from being drawn into the cylinder and discharged therefrom to the part to be lubricated. V

The .upper part of the reservoir B is normally closed by a cap 39 which may be removed for the purpose of filling the reservoir. Within the reservoir I provide a freely sliding follower 40 which rests on the lubricant contained therein and prevents the formation of conical cavities in the lubricant by the suction produced in the cylinder unit. The inlet port 19 is located eccentrically of the reservoir and the normal tendency is for the lubricant thereabove to be drawn into the cylinder before lubricant located on the o posite side of the reservoir is thus affected.

uchuneven withdrawal of lubricant from the reservoir would cause the follower 40 to assume a tilted position-and would result in the formation-of an air passage connecting mounted on a shaft 56 cylinder by the vacuum created therein. In order to insure even withdrawal of lubricant from the reservoir and descent of the follower 40 in a horizontal position, I incorporate a baflle plate 41 in the strainer 38. This baffle prevents the lubricant immediately above the port from being drawn directly into the cylinder and in effect transfers the inlet port to the center of the reservoir, thereby insuring even withdrawal. The follower 40 is provided with a handle 42 to facilitate removal of the follower prior to refilling the reservoir.

The guide 34 has a tapered bore 43 in which the piston rod reciprocates. The outer end 44 of the bore 43 fits the piston rod closely, having approximately two thousandths of an inch clearance, and serves as a uide for maintaining the piston rod in su stantial alignment with the cylinder bore 18. The inner end 45 of the tapered bore 43 has a clearance of 7 O to 80 thousandths of an inch and forms an annular space around the piston rod. This space communicates directly with the lubricant-filled interior of the trough 21 and on the intake stroke of the piston, the piston rod tends to draw lubricant into the open end 45 of the'tapered bore 43. The lubricant thus drawn into the bore 43'jams between the tapered wall thereof and the piston rod and forms an eifective seal against leakageof lubricant.

Interposed between the electric motor A and the cylinder unit C is a speed reducing and non-positive driving mechanism denoted, generally, by the letter D. This driving mechanism includes a worm shaft 47 (Figure 2) having supporting bearings 48 and 49 carried in a housing 50, and a thrust bearing 51, and is connected to the motor shaft 52 by a universal joint 53 of any well known type. Mounted on the worm shaft 47 is a worm 54 engaging and drivin a worm wheel 55 %Figure 3) having one end journaled in a bearing 57 formed in the housin 50 and having, at its other end, a crank isc 58 which serves as a journal and is rotatably supported in the bearlng 59 formed in the casing 50. By this construction a shorter shaft and more compact housing can be used and the side thrust on the bearings is reatly reduced.

ounted on the crank disc 58 is a crank pin 60 carrying a roller 61 adapted to engage one side of a strap 62 of the yoke 63 for moving said yoke in one direction. The yoke 63 comprises parallel straps 62 and 64 connected by cylindrical steel guiding bolts 65 and 66 slidin in uides 67 and 68, respectively, attache to t e casing 50. The strap 64 has an opening 69 in which the reduced end of the piston rod 32 is clamped by washers 70 and 71 and nuts 72 and 73. As will be readily apparent from Figure 2, the reduced end of the piston rod 32 is smaller than the opening 69 in the strap 64, thus forming a floating connection therebetween which makes it unnecessary to maintain the yoke '63 in exact alignment with the cylinder unit. v The strap (32 has an end 74 which extends beneath the base and has secured thereto an adjustable hook 75 for engaging one end of a long tension spring 76 lying entirely beneath said base and having its other end held in a hook 77 firmly secured to one end of the base. The spring 76 is extended on each suction stroke of the piston and tends to force said piston into the cylinder and discharge lubricant therefrom at high pressure. Placing the spring 76 beneath the base results in a compact arrangement and permits the use of a long spring, thereby insuring only slight variation in spring tension between extremes of piston travel. In order to provide for the eccentric pull of the spring 7 b on the end 7 4 of the strap 62, this strap has aiiixed thereto a third cylindrical guiding member 78 sliding in a guide 79 forming part of the casing or housing 50. A removable cover 50a normally encloses the yoke 63 and associated parts. The casing or housing 50 is independently mounted on the base 10 and firmly secured thereto by bolts 80.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be apparent that my invention comprehends independently mounting each operating unit on the common base and coupling these units together through non-rigid connections. The moving parts of each unit are entirely supported by other parts of the same unit and the necessity for accurately aligning the several units with respect to each other is thus eliminated. This construction thus greatly facilitates assembly of the compressor as the positioning of the several units in proper alignment has heretofore been a time consuming operation requiring highly skilled workmen.

. In order to provide proper lubrication for' the various parts of the drivlng mechanismv interposed between the motor and cylinder units, I mount a lubricant receiving nipple 81 on the casing 50 so as to communicate with the interior of said casing. By connecting this nipple with a nozzle of a lubricant compressor such, for example, as the nozzle 82 shown in Figure 4 as connected to the end of the discharge conduit of this compressor,

lubricant may be forced into the interior of the casing 50 and from thencedistributed to .lubricate all of the parts of the driving mechanism which require lubrication. The lubricant which is thus forced into and fills the casing 50 lubricates the worm 54: and worm wheel 55, thrust bearing 51, worm bearings 47 and 49, worm wh eel shaft bearing 57 and bearing 59 in which crank disc 58 is journaled. In order to lubricate the roller 61 from the same source, I form a longitudinal bore 83 in the crank pin and My invention further comprehends novelmeans for permitting ready discharge of any air which may collect in the cylinder or in the bottom of the reservoir. This means is supported by the casting 23 and comprisesan ordinary turn-cock 88 mounted in a plug 89 threadedly secured to the casting 23, and a special check valve 90 co-operating' with a seat 91 formed in said casting. In the form of the invention disclosed in the drawings and shown more porticularly in .Figure 3,thecasting 23 is provided with a lateral opening 92 terminating at a valve seat 91 and normally closed by the tongue 93 of a flap Valve 90 which I preferably form from a piece of empire cloth. Resting against the valve 90 is an annular washer 94 held in place by a metal retaining washer 95 which serves the further purpose of limiting the movement of the tongue of the valve away from the valve seat. The flap valve 90 is extremely sensitive to air pressureand will readily close on the suction stroke of the piston and prevent any air from being drawn into the cylinder 18 through the turn-cock 88 and the connecting passage in the casting 23. I have found it desirable to provide such an air sensitive valve in addition to the regular check valve 29 as the latter cannot be relied upon under all conditions to seal the discharge end of the cylinder against infiltration of air on the suction stroke of the piston.

My new and improved lubricant compressor is particularly designed for use in connection with a combined booster and release tions, .aswhen the device is being used to lubricate a frozen bearing.

. In the operation of my new and improved lubricant compressor, the electric motor A is connected to a light circuit or other source of electrical energy by means of a long flexible electric conduit (not shown) which permits limited movement of the compressor about the room in which it is located. Upon theefi'ecting of this connection, the motor A commences to rotate and drives the crank disc and is provided 58, crank and roller 61 through the medium of the worm 54 and worm wheel 55. On each rotation of the crank disc 58, the roller 61 presses against the inner side of the strap 62 and moves the yoke 63 to the position shown in Figure 2, thereby causing the piston 17 to make its suction stroke and simultaneously increasing slightly the tension in the spring 76. Since the roller 61 moves past the position shown in Figure 2, the spring 76 pulls the yoke 63 in the opposite direction from that in which it has been moved by the roller 61, and causes the piston 17 to discharge lubricant from the cylinder 18 at high pressure. As the discharge conduit 25 is closed by the booster and release valve, this conduit soon becomes filled with tightly packed lubricant and thereafter the piston remains in substantially the position shown in Figure 2,

as the spring 76 can no longer operate the piston to force lubricant from the cylinder. In this condition the motor continues to'rotate under substantially no load and the cylinder 61 on the crank 60 rotates idly. In practice, the piston 17 always reciprocates through a distance substantially equal to the width of the inlet port of the cylinder, and therefore, on each rotation of the crank disc, the crank and roller 61 move the yoke to the right in Figure 2, a distance equal to the width of this port, and the spring 76 immediately returns the piston through a like distance.

When the operator desires to lubricate a bearing, he connects the discharge nozzle 82 with a lubricant receiving nipple attached to the part to be lubricated, and'places the handles 96 and 97 toward each other, thereby opening the valve in the discharge conduit and permitting the compressor to force lubricant into the bearing at the pressure created in the cylinder 18. If this'pressure is insufficient, he can approximately double this pressure by releasing the handles 96 and 97, pressing them together again and again releasing them, all as explained in my said co-pending application. If this pressure is not enough to overcome the resistance of the bearing, the operator may grasp the levers 96 and 97 and pull them away from each other, by which means he can obtain a pressure s'ufiicientto overcome the resistance of practically any bearing.

Having thus illustrated and desc ribed a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A lubricant compressdr of the class described, comprising, in combination, a source oflubricant supply, a cylinder unit fed from said source and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, said cylinder unit including a reciprocable piston, driving means for said piston including a motor and a crank, a crank disc, a shaft secured to said disc,"a

bearing for said shaft, and a second bearing for said disc. 7

2. A lubricant compressor of the class described comprising a base, a lubricant reservoir mounted thereon, means for withdrawing lubricant from said reservoir and discharging the same at high pressure, drlving means for said discharging means, a conduit connecting said discharging means with a non-centrally located part of said reservoir, and a baffle plate associated with said condu t for determining the direction of flow of lubricant from said reservoir into said condult, said baffle insuring even withdrawal of lubricant from said reservoir.

3. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a mobile base, a lubricant reservoir mounted thereon, a cylinder unit mounted in.

said reservoir, said cylinder unit including a reciprocable piston, means carried on said base for reciprocating said piston, said cyl nder unit having a port communicating with the interior of said reservoir at a point remote from the vertical center line of said reservoir,

a strainer covering said port, and baflle means associated with said strainer for causing said cylinder to withdraw lubricant from the center of said reservoir.

4. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a vertical lubricant reservoir, a follower in said reservoir adapted to rest freely upon the lubricant therein, means for withdrawing lubricant from said reservoir, means for driving said last named means, a conduit connecting said withdrawing means with the interior of said reservoir at a point adjacent the bottom thereof but distant from a vertical center line through said reservoir, and means for limiting the withdrawal of lubricant from said reservoir to the central part thereof, thus resulting in even withdrawal of lubricant from said reservoir and descent of said follower in a horizontal position.

5. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a reciprocating member, means for reciprocating said member, a guide having a tapering bore therethrough in which said member reciprocates, one end of said tapered bore closely fitting said reciprocating member and the other end of said bore forming a loose fit for said member, and a lubricant chamber in communication with the large end of said bore.

6. .In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a cylinder unit including a reciproeating piston and piston rod, a'source oflubricant supply for said unit, means for reciprocating said piston and rod, and a stiiflin box for forming a lubrica nt-tight seal aroun eaders 5 member.

7. In a lubricant compressor of the class described, a mobile base having a center line, an electric motor mounted on said base, a high pressure cylinder mounted on said base, and driving mechanism connecting said motor with a piston operating in said cylinder, said motor, driving means and cylinder mounted at an angle to the center line of said base.

8. In a lubricating apparatus of the class described, mobile supporting means, a base carried by said means, said base'being substantially symmetrical about a center line, and lubricant storing and expelling means mounted on said base at an angle to said center line.

9. In a lubricating apparatus of the class described, a lubricant reservoir,.a cylinder unit communicating with said reservoir and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, means for operating said cylinder unit,

7 and a common base for said reservoir, cylinder unit and operating means, said basefhavmg a center llne lying in a vertical plane passing through the center of said reservoir and the center of said operating means, said cylinder unit and operating means having center lines at an angle to the center line of said base.

10. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a source of lubricant supply, a cylinder unit communicating with said source and adapted to withdraw lubricant therefrom and discharge it at high pressure, a motor for operating said cylinder unit, driving mechanism connecting said motor and cylinder unit, and a common base for said cylinder unit, motor and driving mechanism, said base substantially symmetrical about a center line, said motor, driving mechanism and cylinder unit having center lines parallel to each other and located at an angle to the center line of said base.

11. A lubricating apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a source of lubricant supply, pumping means for withdrawing lubricant from said source and supplying it to a bearing to be lubricated,

- a motor for operating said pumpin mechanism, driving mechanism operativ ly connecting said motor with said pumping mechanism, a base upon which said motor, driving mechanism and pumping mechanism are independently mounted, movable'supports for said base, a universal connection between said motor and said driving mechanism, and a floating connection between said driving mechanism and said pumping mechanism.

12. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a. source of lubricant supply for feeding said cylinder, a discharge conduit communicating with said cylinder and adapted to be attached to a art requiring lubrication, a driving yoke or operating said piston, means for applying a force substantially centrally of'said yoke for moving said piston in one direction, means for applying a force eccentrically of said yoke to move said piston in the opposite direction, and means for suppofting and guiding said yoke at three points on y.

13. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a source of lubricant supply, a cylinder fed therefrom and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a yoke connected to said piston, means for reciprocating said yoke, said yoke comprising spaced parallel straps, spaced parallel guiding means connecting said straps, and a third guiding means connected to one of said straps and having a common axis with said piston.

14. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a source of lubricant supply, a cylinder fed therefrom and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, a discharge con: duit communicating with said cylinder and adapted to be connected to a part requiring lubrication, a piston reciprocable in said cyiinder, a yoke connected to said piston, means 15. Lubricating apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination, a base,

mobile supporting means therefor, a reservoir mounted on said base, a cylinder unit on said base, said cylinder unit fed from said reservoir and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, a discharge conduit communicating with said cylinder, said cylinder unit including'a reciprocable piston, means mounted on said base for moving said piston in one direction, and separate means beneath said base for moving said piston in the opposite direction.

16. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a source of lubricant supply,a cylinder unit fed therefrom and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, a discharge conduit connected to said cylinder, said cylinder unit including a reciprocable piston, a motor for operating said piston, and driving mechanism interposed between said motor and said piston, said mechanism including a casing, gearing supported in said casing, bearings for said gearing, a crank driven from said gearing, reciprocating means operated by said crank, guide means for said are - cylinder unit, said cylinder unit comprising a cylinder member proper having a part protruding through a section of said wall, a guiding member having a part extending through a different section of said Wall and means separate from said reservoir adjustably connecting said cylinder member and guiding member and maintaining them in proper alignment, said'means forming a support for a strainer covering the inlet to the cylinder.

18. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, a cylinder unit comprising a piston, a cylinder member having an end. adapted to rest on a support and a second end forming a guide for said piston, a support for said cylinder member, a guiding member spaced from said cylinder member and adapted to maintain said piston in pro er alignment therewith, said guiding member having a art adapted to rest on a support, a support or said guiding member, and ad,- justable means connecting said cylinder member and said guiding member and maintaining said members in proper alignment independently of any supporting means on which said 0 linder member and guiding member may lie carried. I

19. Lubricating apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination, a lubri: cant reservolr, a pump unit fed from said reservoir and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, driving means for said pump, and a discharge conduit for said pump means, an outwardly opening check valve in said conduit, and a special air-sensitive check valve in series with said first mentioned check valve for facilitating discharge of air entrapped in said cylinder and reservoir,

20. In lubricating a paratus of the class described, a source 0 lubricant supply, a cylinder unit fed therefrom and adapted to discharge lubricant at high pressure, means for operating said cylinder unit, a dischargeconduit for said cylinder unit, manually controlled means for placing said discharge condu1t in communication with the atmosphere, and an air-sensitive flap valve interposed between said manually controlled means and said cylinder unit for facilitating the discharge of air therefrom.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of August, 1927.

. ERNEST W. DAVIS. 

